South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-07-22
A DISCOURAGED MAN.

IT'S the last time am going to try!
Luck is agains. me, and I'll just give
W! There is no use in trying to do any
thing, when the odds are against you"
1t was John Harris who was doing the
talking. His wife was sewing buttons
on tho childrcn's clothes after they had
gone to bed. As she held the buttons
in her mouth, to prevent them rolling
of, she had no opportunity to answer
her husband, even if she had the incli-
nation.
Mr. Harris resumed:
'rm clean discouraged, that's what 1
am! or course don't think of MYSELF
Mrs. Harris lip CURED a little, and
one button escaped, and rolled under
the tablc--'t's you and the children
I'm worried about" button
rolled away-''and if it wasn't for lcav-
ing you alone, Mary, I'd"
He did not finish what he was saying
rs just then Mrs. Harris coughcd and
all the buttons flew out of her mouth.
SIS it such a bad failurcl" she asked
presently. She was darning the child
rcn's stockings now, having scwed on
ali the fugitive buttons.
ut couldn't be worse. When a mans
partner takes all the money out of the
business and skips to foreign country,
everybody hounds him to death as if he
had been dishonest. All the creditors
arc camoring for their money, not be-
cause they need it, but because haven't
got it. It's no use, Mary, Pm ruined
man and Pm going to find way out of
it ALL"
How" asked Mrs, Harris calmly,
although the long, slender needle she
was using trcmbIcd and vibrated in her
hand.
There are more ways than one, "hc an
swercd significantly. 81 shall not live
to sec you want, or to be II burden on
you and the children. There is no dis
honor attached to my nams now. We
have lived within our means and tried
earnestly to succeed. 1t was rash, sup
pose, to embark all in ore venture and
,ojc III"
"You have not lost ALL" suggested
his wife; "you have health, wife and
children and an unbcmished Character
Poor capital, these" rctortcd her
husband gloomiy. mo, am going to
give upl Itcll you, Mary, I'm a dis
couragcd mani You don't know what
it is TO endure business worries; women
arc sheltered and prot, ctcd from all
those annoyanccs."
care thcyp answered Mrs. Harris
with dry lips. She had done the work
of three women that day. She had been
cook, and nurse. now was scamstress.
She had cut and contr.vcd, counted
pennies and was engaged TO give music
lessons to the doctors daughter, TO offset
their last years bill. Her wh1e frame
quivcred with the pain Of iarrcl and
/ 'ang'cd nerves. But it never entered
into her mind that she dared to COM
plain. doe the Next Thyngc," was the
motto she had frtmed and hung IN
where she could see it, many times a
day.
cas- ! say" continued her husband
after spell of gloomy thought, "thcrc'
way out Of it, and many man has
been driven to it. won't live and be
persccuicd by mob of circumstances. If
were cut Of the way you and the chill
dren would have enough 10 1--we on
comfortably the rest of your lives. It's
only anticipating our final fate by a few
months or years ="
Mrs. Harris folded the last pair OF
stockings and laid them neatly away. A
little smile hovcrci about her lips.
"John," she said in firm voice, 81
have q last favor to ask o. you"
''What is it, MaryW
Don't die in The houscw
Before the ast nishcd man could
speak, she continued:
'B cause it would be so unpleasant
for the children and for me. IL Is our
home. have the decd Of it in my pos.
session, sent to me by my father yesto--
/ day. And should hate to have any un-
pleasant associations connected with IL.
! should very much dislike 10 have YOU
I Luricd ut the four corners near here with
a stake driven through you, though
. people would soon forgot th,t we ever
/ belonged to you For would not own
to being the widow Of a coward or let
my children bear his name. Aud even
IL you were not held responsible would
be ashamed to think you had written
your own cpitaph, TI3rc lies dis.
{ couraged man
/ John Harris was dumb with surpfi,c
u know, " continued his wife. "that
1t is favoritc thing FOR men to say that
they vii get out Of it all. and that
women do not realize how desperate the